blood-brain barrier

noun

: a naturally occurring barrier created by the modification of brain capillaries (as by reduction in fenestration and formation of tight cell-to-cell contacts) that prevents many substances from leaving the blood and crossing the capillary walls into the brain tissues

Examples of blood-brain barrier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Delivering drugs to the brain The blood-brain barrier is evolution’s exquisite solution to keeping noxious substances away from this most critical organ. Richard J. Price, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025 The protein usually binds to amyloid-beta and transports it across the blood-brain barrier into the bloodstream to be eliminated. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025 More recently, there has been a wireless implantable brain device that partially restores vision in some of the blind; drug delivery systems that cross the blood-brain barrier to reach cancers in the central nervous system; and gene therapies for babies born without immune systems. Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2025 Previous research has found that TCE, when inhaled or ingested, can easily cross the blood-brain barrier and cause damage to neurons. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blood-brain barrier

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blood-brain barrier was in 1934

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Cite this Entry

“Blood-brain barrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blood-brain%20barrier. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

blood-brain barrier

noun
: a naturally occurring barrier created by the modification of brain capillaries (as by reduction in fenestration and formation of tight cell-to-cell contacts) that prevents many substances from leaving the blood and crossing the capillary walls into the brain tissues
abbreviation BBB

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